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Coming Events and Activities

Workshops & Events for Students, Teachers, Alumni & SOE Faculty

Why Linguistics Matters in Urban Education

Wednesday, April 18th 12:00- 1:30 pm

Wallis Reid

Wallis Reid, Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education will discuss why linguistics matters in urban education. The recent publication of the linguistic works of the late William Diver, in a volume edited by two CUNY professors, Alan Huffman and Joseph Davis, occasions an examination of the relevance of linguistics in urban teacher education, including bilingual second-language, and foreign language teachers. Several of Diver's intellectual heirs, including here at City College, have found areas of strong connection between their linguistic training and their work in teacher education. Among them: When students learning a new language make mistakes, what is it they don't know? And, How does a teacher teach correct usage while claiming that no variety of language is superior to others? All are welcome to attend. The workshop will be held in NAC 4/220B.

The New York City Department of Education will hold a teacher recruitment event at City College on Monday, April 23, 2012, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, in the North Academic Complex (1/203). There are many openings in the upcoming school year, with even more expected in the future, for bilingual teachers in all subject areas and grade levels. Information will be provided on the following topics:

The role of bilingual teachers

The job market for bilingual teachers in NYC schools

How to find bilingual jobs

How to complete the Bilingual Extension if you do not already hold one

This hands-on workshop is for School of Education students, faculty, alumni and cooperating teachers. The workshops are structured around the experience level and the specific subject matter taught by the participants. For entry level, we will start with the basics and then dive into the interactive classroom possibilities depending on the needs and interests of the participants. During the advanced workshop you will work with the instructor to create your own classroom material. No matter what your level of experience, you will get a chance to use the SmartBoard.

If a workshop has to be canceled you will be contacted via email. Assume your registration is confirmed unless you hear otherwise. Please note the session(s) you sign up for as reminders will not be sent out.

Play: Its Uses and Importance in Development, Early Intervention, and Early Childhood Special Education

Tuesday, April 24 - 5:00-6:30 pm

Karen Lifter

Karen Lifter, Professor at Northeastern University will discuss the uses and importance of play in development, early intervention and childhood special education. Play is a natural activity of early childhood, which has great relevance to the fields of early intervention (EI), early childhood special education (ECSE), and early childhood education (ECE). Within these fields, ongoing tensions persist in how play is described and used. These tensions compromise activities of assessment, intervention, and curriculum development and their connections to research and practice. All are welcome to attend. This session will be held in NAC 4/220B.Click for full workshop description.

CCNY Education Alumni's Annual Awards Dinner

Thursday, May 3rd at the National Arts Club from 6:00 to 8:30 pm

Tickets are available for the Education Alumni's Annual Awards Receptionthat will be held on May 3rd at the National Arts Club, Gramercy Park in Manhattan. All alumni are invited. Tickets to the dinner are $65 each (includes cocktails and hors d'oeuvres). The National Arts Club is located at 15 Gramercy Park South (20th Street) between Park and Irving Place, on the southwest corner of Gramercy Park. Contact Ms. Olga Mikhlina (omikhlina@ccnyalumni.org; 212-650-5343) for tickets and/or Journal Ads ($25 and up) or Dr. Bruce M. Billig (bbillig@ccny.cuny.edu) Awards will be given to a Distinguished Educator, Outstanding Teachers, Outstanding Administrators and Distinguished Partners in Education.

NOTE CORRECTION: In the April/May issue we had erroneously said that dinner would be served. This is instead a reception with an open bar and "sumptuous" hors d'oeuvres. Dinner will not be served and tickets are $65- not $85 each.

Educational Theatre graduate student
leading the children in "Old
MacDonald Hhad a Farm"

Family Arts Saturday Program - Theatre Arts Activities! Classes are at 10am for 2-3 year olds and 11am for 4, 5, 6 year olds on the following dates: April14 and April 21. Please email educationaltheatre@ccny.cuny.edu requesting more information.

Mini conference - join the Ed Theatre Club on March 31st for the 2nd Annual Ed Theatre Mini Conference. The conference with consist of a day full of breakout sessions and panels focusing on the most current trends and topics in Educational Theatre. Admission is free, plus breakfast and lunch will be provided. To RSVP email the Ed Theatre club: edtheatreclub@ccny.cuny.edu.

"Raise the Curtain" Fundraiser - In the Spring 2011, Ed Theatre candidates were fed up with sitting around discussing age old issues inherent in the field of Educational Theatre. They decided to stand up and do something about them. From this surge of advocacy, Raise the Curtain was formed. Their first fundraiser, a production of the musical Really Rosie, will be held on April 24th at the Mint Theatre. For more information or if you are interested in donating to their cause, email raisethecurtainnyc@gmail.com.

Summer Institute for Co-Teachers and Administrators "Collaboration in Practice"

August 7-9

Jan Valle

The 4th annual summer institute for co-teachers will be held at City College August 7-9, 2012. The summer institute, Collaboration in Practice, is a partnership between the School of Education's graduate Childhood Education Program and Children First Network 203. Led by Dr.Ellen Rice, Director of Instruction/Professional Development and Professor Jan Valle. The institute provides professional development in inclusive practices for new co-teaching teams and school administrators at the elementary level.

Institute Topics include building and maintaining an effective co-teaching relationship, implementing the six models of co-teaching, differentiating instruction for all students, facilitating classroom community, routines, and procedures, integrating inclusive practices within curriculum, nurturing social and emotional learning, and developing and enacting inclusive philosophy in the classroom. Additionally, Professor Laura Gellert will repeat her well-received breakout sessions on mathematics pedagogy in the Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classroom. We would like to recognize Mary Jo Pisacano and Carol Elk, inclusive instructional leaders within the DOE, for providing administrative and financial support for the fourth year in a row.

The institute is free for teachers. Each participant receives a notebook, a manual on co-teaching by Marilyn Friend. It will be held in the North Academic Complex (NAC room 4/220B). Contact Professor Valle at jvalle@ccny.cuny.edu for additional information.

Library Hour for SOE Students & Faculty

Jaqueline A. Gill

Our SOE Library hour this spring is being held every Tuesday from 5 to 6pm in NA 2/204 (2nd floor of Cohen Library). You do not have to make arrangements, just drop in.

During that hour the Information Literacy Coordinator Professor Jacqueline A. Gill will be available for faculty, staff and students to answer questions about the library and research within the library resources. Should you not be able to come during that hour, Professor Gill is also available via blog at http://soelibraryhour.wordpress.com/, via email at jgill@ccny.cuny.edu and via phone at 212-650-6089.

Faculty can discuss and arrange library visits and workshops. Professor Gill can be invited to education classes to introduce herself and provide an overview of how the library can help students meet their research needs. Furthermore she conducts workshops each semester to introduce faculty and staff to the Library resources.

Last year, our student club, Teachers of Tomorrow made a whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. and it was a great success. This year we will be visiting Colonial Williamsburg in order to continue building the strong foundation that we, as future teachers, need to inspire our students. We will leave April 9th and return April 10th. Once again, the Auxiliary Enterprise Corporation of CCNY and Undergraduate Student Government are helping to support the trip in order to enrich our experiences as City College future teachers. Click here to read the full article.

If you would like to find out more and/or join our club, please email me at tot@ccny.cuny.edu.

Ms. Lisa Yu
Club President

Three Teacher Academy Students Accepted in the
Math for America Program

It is with great pride that we announce that three of our Teacher Academy students have been accepted into the highly selective Math for America Program. They are:

Professor Beverly Smith has announced that "Math for America" (MfA) is moving its initial teacher certification fellowship program to City College. Drawing upon the strengths of each organization and best practices in teacher preparation, MfA and CCNY are uniquely positioned to provide this premiere training program for new mathematics teachers in New York City. Click here to read full article.

For more information about Math for America and the extraordinary financial and other support students who are part of the program will receive go to http://www.mathforamerica.org/ . For other details about the program contact Professor Beverly Smith at besmith@ccny.cuny.edu .

Mathematics Science Partnership Grant (MSP) Prepares for Third Year

Professor Beverly Smith reports that The CCNY/NYCDOE Mathematics Education Program's Title IIB Math Science Partnership Grant is in its final year of a three-year funding cycle. The MSP grant is for the professional development of teachers currently teaching in public or private schools in New York City. It pays the tuition for eligible teachers as they complete one of the five options described in the full article (see link below)Although there is only one year of funding remaining, we are still accepting applicants for each of the master's degree and three new 15 credit certificate programs at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Click here to read the full article.

CUNY Professor Alan Huffman, the first volume of linguistic works by the late William Diver, Professor of Linguistics at Columbia University. The title is Language: Communication and Human Behavior. The Linguistic Essays of William Diver. The volume, published by Brill in 2012, contains 18 papers dating from 1969 to 1995, three with Davis as co-author, most never before published. Topics include grammar, phonology, and linguistic theory. Languages analyzed include Homeric Greek, Classical Latin, and modern English. In addition to editing the papers, Huffman and Davis annotated extant manuscripts by Diver, expanded or reconstructed several papers, and wrote introductions to each paper. There is also an introduction to the volume and to the school of linguistic thought that Diver founded, plus an extensive bibliography and index. Davis teaches linguistics courses in the Bilingual Education and TESOL Program, including courses in introductory linguistics, grammar, phonology, and second language acquisition.

Professor Yvel C. Crevecoeur of the Department of Leadership & Special Education co-authored "English-language learners and English-only learners' response to direct vocabulary instruction", which was accepted for publication by Reading and Writing Quarterly: Overcoming Learning Difficulties.

In November 2011, Professor Crevecoeur also presented preliminary data on "Preparing Special Educators to Identify, Select, Implement, and Evaluate Evidence-based Practices" at the thirty-fourth annual conference of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, Austin, TX.

Professor Beverly Falk has edited a new

book entitled "Defending Childhood: Keeping the Promise of Early Education." From the publisher,Teachers College Press, "This book brings together a group of extraordinary educators and scholars who offer important insights about what we can do to defend childhood from societal challenges". And, from the Foreword by Linda Darling-Hammond, Stanford University, "These pages make clear that the way to foster effective teaching is not with curriculum mandates and pacing guides but with professional learning opportunities that prepare expert educators to take advantage of and create teachable moments." For more information go to www.tcpress.com

On February 28th many students and faculty came to hear CCNY School of Education Professor Emeritus James Shields lead a presentation that focused on what American educators can learn from Japanese schools. He was supported by co-presenters Fulbright Visiting ProfessorToshikazu Kikuchi and Dr. Steven Chemsak both from Teachers College, Columbia University. The event was sponsored by the Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture. Click here to find out who Townshend Harris was and what terms like "juku" and "gambaru" mean

Ed Theatre Program Hosts Lecture/Workshop and Creates a
New Program Video

Sobha K. Paredes facilitating "Face to Face"
workshop

In February, Ms. Sobha K. Paredes was part of a workshop/panel presentation at the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable's Face to Face Conference. This conference brought together Cultural Organizations, teachers, teaching artists and administrators. Sobha was part of a panel called The Wisdom Is in the Room: The Benefits of Teaching Artists working as Advisors. This session shared innovative ideas on how to utilize teaching artists to help develop the teaching artist ensemble at cultural institutions as well as sharing best practices for mentoring groups. The session included members of the Education programs at the New Victory Theater and Round About Theater.

Cecily O'Neill Leading
Workshop

The Graduate Program in Educational Theatre also hosted a lecture/workshop with master theatre practitioner Dr. Cecily O'Neill on March 1. Cecily is well known for her work with Process Drama and author of magnificent teacher resources such as Drama Worlds: A Framework for Process Drama, DreamSeekers: Creative Approaches to African American Heritage, and Drama Structures. She came in and engaged graduate candidates with activities that led to them collaboratively create a story using activities such as role playing, guided imagery, live drawings, imaginary tours, and teacher in role.

In additon, the Graduate Program in Educational Theatre hosted a Cultural Arts Fair on March 10th during lunch at the "In Defense of Childhood" Conference. Approxamately 38 Cultural Organizations shared information about the important work that they are doing around New York City. All 5 art forms were represented.

This year, in recognition of the 90th anniversary of the School of Education, some 230 students, faculty and alumni attended the The Doyle and Alba Bortner Distinguished Speaker Series in Urban Education on March 5thand heard Dr. Arnetha F. Ball speak on the topic "Reform of Urban Teacher Education Programs: Expanding Upon a Model of Generative Change". Dr. Ball is a Professor of Education at Stanford University, President of the American Educational Research Association, Director of the Program in African and African American Studies at Stanford University, and Consultant to the Sizemore Initiative in Urban Education at Duquesne University, where she developed and put into practice her approach to teacher education and what she calls "the Model of Generative Change". Professor Ball stressed the importance of knowledge generation in teacher education programs, both for future teachers and their students, so that future teachers, in turn, would facilitate knowledge-generating projects with the children they teach. She emphasized the importance of funds of knowledge that students bring to urban classrooms and the interconnectedness of school, family, community and university partnerships in a spirited, uplifting, presentation. Students stayed afterwards to ask questions; additionally, lively discussions followed in classes later in the evening.

In Defense of Childhood:Keeping the Joy of Learning Alive

4th grade African drummers from the Bronx
Community Charter School performing at the
closing plenary

Professors Beverly Falk (Education) and Bill Crain (Psychology) convened this all-day Conference at City College on March 10 with a plenary session in Shepard's Great Hall. What a great day it was! Over 700 people registered (and we think over 600 actually came), an inspiring keynote, forty interesting and informative break-out sessions, a cultural arts fair that provided information about the work of 38 NYC cultural arts organizations, a smashing performance by the 4th grade African drummers from the Bronx Community Charter School, and a brilliant closing panel. We think the conference accomplished our goal of raising issues critical to the well-being of children, featuring practices that are supportive of children and families, and inspiring and renewing commitment to advocate for a healthy and equitable childhood for all. We hope to keep the energy going by staying connected in the future through the conference website and also through a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ at InDefenseOfChildhood. Read more ...

On March 22, 2012, the CCNY Education Alumni Group and the CCNY School of Education co-hosted a Principals Panel entitled: "Interviewing Skills for a Teaching or Leadership Position". Approximately 100 attendees were treated to the panelists' responses to questions such as: "What are typical interview questions that you ask candidates and why?" "What do you expect to learn about a candidate during an interview?" "How can a candidate best prepare for a demonstration lesson in your school?" "What should a candidate include in his/her portfolio?" The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Joyce Coppin, President of the CCNY Education Alumni Group. The panelists were: George Young, Principal of PS 46M, Angela Rodriguez, Principal of PS 115M, Ysidro Abreu, Principal of MS 319M, David Fanning, Principal (IA) of A. Phillip Randolph H.S., Irwin Shlachter, former Headmaster of various independent private schools and current CCNY College Supervisor of student teachers and Nanette Rosario-Sanchez, Director of Teacher Certification for the United Federation of Teachers

Following the panel discussions and Q & A, the panelists were joined by other former NYC school administrators and College Supervisors for the small group Round Table "Mock Interviews". The group leaders included: Harold Rothstein, Alan Geller and Dr. Bruce Billig, Director of Clinical Practice for the CCNY School of Education's Office of Field Experiences and Student Teaching and First Vice President of the CCNY Education Alumni Group. Evaluation comments after the session were very positive.

http://www.watchknowlearn.org Extraordinary site with thousands of free videos appropriate for your students in nearly every area. Also very easy to navigate.

www.teachingchannel.org Another amazing site that describes itself as "a video showcase on the Internet and TV of inspiring and effective teaching practices in America's schools". This is a wonderful way to watch specific teaching practices at home and then discuss them the next day with peers or classmates. The teaching channel also gives you a workspace where you can save the videos you want, a free lesson planner and a place to store your notes. More than twenty three thousand teachers are logged on to this site and it's free to join and use their resources. A nonprofit, it has received seed funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Beginning teachers, experienced teachers and teacher educators can find something valuable at this site. Thanks to Dr. Bruce Billig for identifying this resource.

http://www.journeytoexcellence.org/practice/instruction/theories/miscideas/socratic/ If you have not heard of Socratic Seminars now is as good a time as any to 'Google' this approach to teaching. It helps students explore their own and others ideas about any topic and their own values, attitudes and beliefs. This particular site is a starter site- but explore others like it before you try the approach in your classroom. Socratic Seminars can work at nearly all ages in nearly all subject areas.

http://education.skype.com Skype in the classroom brings together teachers, projects and resources from around the world intended for worldwide project-based collaboration, videoconferencing and global learning. First go out and buy an inexpensive webcam for your classroom then join Skype in the classroom and bring the world to your students! "Ni hao!"

www.InYourClass.com This social network web site for students in classes together was created by Arber Ruci, a City College student and was originally created for City College students. it is really growing, with students from other colleges also participating. Those taking classes at the College may join this site. Take a look at both the web site and at this letter from Mr. Ruci that was recently sent to participants.

Articles of Interest

This section provides links to articles that briefly present current issues and events in education. Keeping in mind how busy our readers are, most of the articles are no more than one to three pages. Since this is the last issue of CONNECTED this academic year, save these links and you will have the entire summer to read the articles.

Thanks to Professor Beverly Falk who suggested the following two articles:

The second, from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Clinical Report - "The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bond: Focus on Children in Poverty" is by Regina M. Milteer, Kenneth R. Ginsburg, and Deborah Ann Mulligan in Pediatrics 2012; 129:1 e204-e213; published December 26, 2011 may be found at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/1/e204.full

is a wonderful source for interesting and diverse articles on education of both local and national interest. See some of what they published over the past several months:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/10/03/111003fa_fact_gawande "Personal Best" by Atul Gawande is a fascinating article that suggests that even a fine surgeon (like the author) and other good professionals (e.g., fine teachers) would benefit by having a coach. Perhaps we should spend more time coaching good teachers to make them even better.

There have been many school reform trends over the past few years: student response systems, video games for math, mobile phones for learning - but none have completely transformed the notion of learning like the flipped classroom. Flipped learning, in essence, turns the idea of traditional classroom instruction on its head by asking students to watch videos of teacher lectures for homework, then apply the lesson with the teacher in the classroom. http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/02/09/a-first-hand-look-inside-a-flipped-classroom/ Read the article and watch the video of a flipped classroom.

http://tinyurl.com/6v7zay9"Shaun R. Harper set his own research agenda as a graduate student a decade ago. In a study released today, the first from his new Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education at Penn, Harper analyzes a cohort of 219 black men (at a range of institutional types) who meet rigorous criteria that define them as "achievers," to understand both how and why they succeeded in college, and what campus leaders and others might do to help others follow in their footsteps". From Inside Higher Ed by Doug Lederman.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/01/17/teacher-collaboration-with-digital-tools/ "One of technology's most promising aspects is that it enables teachers to collaborate and share lessons plans, teaching tips, and other helpful information - both within and across districts, states, and even worldwide. Videos, video conferencing, and presentation solutions allow teachers to expand their professional development opportunities and collaborate with colleagues - all of which can help educators boost student engagement". Here are some resources from eSchool News to promote that sharing.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/01/19/performance-assessment-making-a-comeback-in-schools/2/? Performance Assessment Making a Comeback in Schools according to Dennis Pierce, editor eSchool News. "Performance assessment is what teachers do every day when they grade students' projects and assignments, but often this work is not part of the high-stakes system that determines whether students are ready to graduate - or whether schools as a whole are making progress".

http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=16671 Book review by Connie Goddard of "Finnish Lessons" by Pasi Sahlberg TC Press. "Between the 1970s and 2000, Finland transformed its schools from "mediocre" to "models of excellence." Read the book review which discusses how they did it.

From Dr.Bruce Billig, Director Office of Field Experiences:Job Openings:To our current student teachers, recent graduates, college supervisors and various SoE faculty and staff: You can obtain free, personalized education (as well as other areas) job alerts delivered to your email inbox from "Simply Hired". Subscribe by going to: http://www.simplyhired.com/a job-alerts/home.

For example, I recently received an email with 20 job openings at the Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy for positions in Elementary, Science, Social Studies, Math, English, Language and Special Ed. They are asking for at least two years experience, however you should review the duties, responsibilities and qualifications for the various positions.From Doris Grasserbauer, Director of the Multimedia Center:Directions to access EBSCOhost on your mobile device
With this app you can retrieve and read articles on your iphone or Android.
In order to get the authorization key you will need to go to the EBSCOHOST databases within the CCNY Library site.

Then, select all of the EBSCOHOST databases and click continue

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select "New: EBSCOhost iPhone and Android Applications"

Type in your email and EBSCO will send you the authorization number

You should view the email on your phone so that when you click the authorization link the number will automatically go into your EBSCO databases app

Sponsor a Student Award or Scholarship

In recognition of the School of Education's 90 years of service to its students, schools and community we invite alumni and retired faculty to consider establishing an award or a scholarship for a School of Education student. The award or scholarship may be in your name or in the name of a loved one. You can imagine how needed, how important and how meaningful these awards and scholarships are to our students and how much encouragement it gives them to continue their careers in education. For further information contact Elena Sturman, Executive Director of The City College Fund at 212-491-2622 or at elena@citycollegefund.org

Please Note Change: Effective 1/1/12, four issues of CONNECTED will be published each academic year as follows: September/October, November/December, February/March and April/May.